Anything Goes. . . . . . .

Our first host is the amazingly talented Sue Carrington and here is Sue's challenge:

This is my favourite challenge theme - you get to do whatever you want with virtually no restrictions! All we ask is that you use stencils or stamps or both on your project and that you work in a mixed media style. No digi images thanks either but if you use image transfer as part of your work that's fine.

I decided to alter a wooden door hanger. I set myself the task of using a word as my starting point which was 'fragile' and here's what happened:

A wooden hanger featuring the use of paints, mediums and stencils.

The hanger is coated twice with gesso and sanded between the layers. Modelling paste is applied through stencils and left to dry. Half pearls are added in the corners. A final coat of gesso is added.

Various colours of fluid acrylics are applied to create the base of the hanger.

Versamark ink is applied on the stencilled modelling paste followed by powder embossing. The products shown are used to give the half pearls a rusty makeover.

Fluid acrylic is applied through the fish stencils in random areas.

The word fragile is stencilled onto the background and some blue stencilling applied over the writing to help it blend. Quinacridone gold fluid acrylic is thinly painted over the word to age it.

Shadows are added with Inktense pencil, a waterbrush and some noir PanPastel (not shown).

Crackle glaze is applied over the whole of the hanger. Black antiquing cream is used to antique the glaze here and there.

Metallic lustre is applied to stencilled 'water bubbles' followed by crackle glaze. When dry, the bubbles are given a coat of white antiquing cream. The shadows - as describe above - are easy to spot in this image.

The colours are much clearer in this image. The fish has been given a small half pearl eye because they looked better with them! Love the subtle gleam of the embossing powder through the layers. Products used on the hanger. Detail of one fish tail. Hope you like the hanger!

We really are very excited about this new venture and want you to feel the same way too! So why not pop over to Stamps and Stencils and have a look at the gorgeous work from my teamies. Then it's your turn!